Amazon’s Fire OS 3.0 ‘Mojito’ arrives just in time for those new tablets

Amazon's Fire OS 30 'Mojito' arrives just in time for those new tablets

New hardware without a software refresh? Don’t make Jeff Bezos laugh. Today’s arrival of three new slates also marks the unveiling of the company’s latest tablet operating system. And this time, it even has a name. See, Amazon’s been using “Fire OS” internally to describe the software powering its tablet line, and now we get to use it as well, with the arrival of version 3.0. As ever, Bezos and Co. have based the OS on Android (Jelly Bean, this time out), with this year’s codename being “Mojito” — a move from candy names to sugary cocktails. The operating system will ship on the new HDX and HD devices. We weren’t able to confirm that it will roll out to older devices, but an Amazon rep we spoke with implied that there’s a good chance of that, given earlier precedents.

First thing’s first: there’s still no Google Play access. No surprise there, of course. After all, the company’s in the habit of subsidizing the cost of its hardware based on future content sales. Still, as ever, the company was quick to point out the speed with which its proprietary app store has grown in recent years. UI-wise, things look familiar. Content is still king, with the home screen built around a river of apps, games, movies, music, et cetera. The company did respond to customer concerns, however, by adding a more familiar grid-style layout that you can access with a swipe up, which should appease all you Android users out there. Swipe from the right, and you’ll see Quick Switch, which lets you switch between different recently used pieces of content.

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Amazon refreshes Kindle Fire HD with new body, $139 price tag

Amazon refreshes Kindle Fire HD with new body, $139 price tag

It’s no surprise, of course, that the Kindle Fire HDX was the thing Amazon wanted to shout about from the Seattle mountaintops today. But Jeff Bezos had another little surprise up his impeccably tailored sleeves — a surprise that makes the $229 HDX look downright extravagant. A warm (if decidedly overcast) Pacific Northwest welcome to the new Fire HD. Well, “new” is perhaps not entirely accurate. This Kindle shares a lot with its predecessor, though there are some notable changes. Namely, the body. See, if we’re strictly talking form factor here, this guy is a dead ringer for the 7-inch HDX. Inside, however, you’ll find last-gen processing power: a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, and on the front, the same old 1,280 x 800 display. Still, not too shabby for $139 — that’s $60 less than the last version cost moments before this post went up.

That price also gets you access to Fire OS 3.0, aka “Mojito,” Amazon’s latest sugary rum of an operating system. Naturally, some of the new features just won’t work on this hardware — things like Mayday, which requires a microphone for use. Like the HDX, this slate plays nicely with those neat new Origami covers. You can pre-order one right this second, but you’ll have to hang on until October 2nd before it actually starts shipping.

Philip Palermo contributed to this report.%Gallery-slideshow90901%

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Source: Amazon

Next-Gen Amazon Kindle Fire HD Leaked Photos Hit The Internet

Next Gen Amazon Kindle Fire HD Leaked Photos Hit The Internet

Just a few months ago, we heard Amazon was in the process of updating its Kindle Fire tablets to receive improved displays and a slightly tweaked design. Shortly after the report was published, Amazon cut the price of its Kindle Fire HD by $40, which lead many to believe a new version was going to be announced sooner than later. It looks like we might finally be hearing about the next Kindle Fire HD as BGR is claiming it has secured images of what it believes to be Amazon’s next tablet. (more…)

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  • Next-Gen Amazon Kindle Fire HD Leaked Photos Hit The Internet original content from Ubergizmo.

        



    Kindle Fire HD 2 specifications and photos appear well before release event

    The next-generation Kindle Fire HD has appeared today in both a set of photos and with a reminder that Amazon wont be letting this unit slip under the radar with high-end specifications. This unit will be popping up with a 7-inch display, a resolution at 1920 x 1200, and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor […]

    This Is Supposedly Amazon’s Next Kindle Fire HD

    This Is Supposedly Amazon's Next Kindle Fire HD

    BGR claims it has images of what it says is the forthcoming update to the Kindle Fire HD. If this is the real deal, the new models will feature a design overhaul addressing some of the last model’s shortcomings.

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    Kindle Fire sale hints at impending next-gen refresh

    If you’re in the market for a Kindle Fire tablet, today might be the day to pick one up, as Amazon is having an all-day Gold Box Deals sale on a variety of Kindle Fire models. At various times throughout the day, Amazon will be putting a specific Kindle Fire model on sale, with a […]

    Amazon’s Having a Kindle Fire (Fire) Sale All Day Today

    Amazon's Having a Kindle Fire (Fire) Sale All Day Today

    If you’ve been thinking about picking up a Kindle Fire HD, now’s a good time. Amazon’s running one hell of a sale today. For starters, the big ol’ Kindle Fire 8.9 is 25 percent off, all day. And pretty much every other model is getting a lightning deal of its own too.

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    Benchmarks hint at Snapdragon-based Kindle Fire HD with 2,560 x 1,600 display

    Benchmarks hint at Snapdragon-based Kindle Fire HD with 2,560 x 1,600 display

    While benchmark leaks can be wobbly info-stones to tread upon, the arrival of some purported Kindle Fire HD scores could be the first steps toward a timely refresh. The results in question refer to a “Amazon KFAPWA” device with a reported Adreno 330 GPU, which by implication would likely mean a Snapdragon 800 SoC. The field that really leaps out, however, is that 2,560 x 1,600 resolution. If true, it could mean the 8.9-inch version is getting a bump from the previous iteration’s 1,920 x 1,200 display. This certainly chimes with earlier reports, and, if nothing else, would certainly make that new browser UI all the more pretty to look at.

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    Via: Android Community

    Source: GFXBench

    Engadget’s back to school guide 2013: e-readers

    Welcome to Engadget’s back to school guide! Today, we’re taking a look at your best e-reader options. Head to the back to school hub to see the rest of the product guides as we add them throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back; in early September, we’ll be giving away a ton of gear, including some of the picks in our guides.

    Engadget's back to school guide 2013 ereaders

    Schoolbooks? What is this, the late 20th century? Granted, we still have a ways to go before all the world’s textbooks go digital, but e-readers should be able to stand in for most of those paperbacks, at least. So lose a little backpack weight, save a couple of trees and take notes without ruining your copy. We have got your e-reader needs covered, no matter what your back to school budget.

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    Amazon Kindle Fire HD Sees $40 Price Cut, Successor Imminent?

    Amazon Kindle Fire HD Sees $40 Price Cut, Successor Imminent?Word on the street has it that Amazon could be looking to launch new Kindle Fire tablets later this year, which we guess is a given considering that Amazon has been enjoying some success with their Android tablet lineup due to its price and somewhat decent specs. While Amazon has yet to confirm a new Kindle Fire tablet, they have recently dropped the price of the current Kindle Fire HD by $40, making it a pretty darn affordable $159. For those who aren’t too concerned about having the latest in terms of hardware and features, then we have to say that $159 for Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD tablet seems like a pretty good bargain.

    However for those who want the latest piece of technology, this drop in price could be a sign that Amazon is looking to get ready for their next Kindle Fire product and that they’re probably trying to offload current stock by making it cheaper. In any case since Amazon has been unveiling new tablets in September over the past two years, we wouldn’t be surprised if the company will unveil a new Kindle Fire tablet in September as well, and a tablet with a Full HD display and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 process has been rumored and could be worth holding out for.

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  • Amazon Kindle Fire HD Sees $40 Price Cut, Successor Imminent? original content from Ubergizmo.